PARIS/LONDON – The world faces a surge in energy costs, as  well as an increase in planet-warming carbon emissions, unless  it agrees a climate change deal soon, the International Energy  Agency said yesterday.  
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 SEOUL - North Korea increased regional tension just ahead of  a trip to Asia this week by U.S. President Barack Obama by  sparking a small-scale naval skirmish with the South yesterday.  
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 ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin  Netanyahu concluded an unusually low-key U.S. visit yesterday  voicing confidence that his White House talks had helped secure  Israel and promote peace efforts.  
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 JERUSALEM – Israel is readying all options to try to force  Iran to halt its atomic programme, Israel’s top general told a  parliamentary panel yesterday, an official said.  
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 ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is capable of ensuring the security of  its nuclear arsenal and a report it is negotiating  “understandings” for U.S. units to augment the weapons’ safety  was “absurd”, a top Pakistani commander said.  
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 WASHINGTON – Barack Obama this week makes his first trip to  Asia as president, leaving behind a host of domestic problems  with a visit that recognizes the region’s economic and  diplomatic importance to the United States.